Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 9
अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः
Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners
तथाधिगगम्य वित्तानि को विकत्थेद् विचक्षण: । निकृत्या वज्चनायोगैश्वरन् वैतंसिको यथा
tathādhigamya vittāni ko vikatthhed vicakṣaṇaḥ | nikṛtyā vañcanāyogaiś caran vaitamsiko yathā ||
एवं निकृत्या लब्धं वित्तं प्राप्य कः विचक्षणः विकत्थेत? यथा वैतंसिको व्याधो वञ्चनायोगैर्निकृत्या जीवति, तथा कपटवृत्त्या धनं लब्ध्वा कः पण्डितः स्वमुखेनात्मानं प्रशंसयेत्?
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth gained through deceit and fraudulent stratagems is ethically tainted; a truly wise person feels no ground for self-praise from such gains and avoids boasting, emphasizing integrity and humility.
Kṛpa speaks critically about acquiring wealth by crooked means, using the example of a bird-catcher who survives through traps and deception, to argue that such earnings do not justify pride.
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